Hinge for doors



' 1,627,329 May 3 1927' C. v. HILL v HINGE FOR DOORS Filed Auer. l. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 3, 1927. 1,627,329

c. v. HILL I HINGE FOR DOORS Filed Aug. 1. 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 @Hof nu! Patented May 3, 1927. Y

UNITED 'STATES vi'Aiii:NT OFFICE.

cLnM'nNT v. HILL, or 'rnnn'rom NEW' JERSEY. y

HINGE FOR DOORS.

Application filedV August 1, Y1925. seriai No. 47,577.

ient character and ole'r such'interiterencetof prevent aa doory opening movement as to i'iilll opening movement of the door.

@ne object ot my invention is to provide combined hingeand` door closer which is simple ot construction, reliable and el'licient in action, or' a coinpactltype, and adapted to permit a iull range oidoo'r opening movement to be obtained without interference.

A" further object otthe invention ris to provice a novel construction and arrange? ment otliinge'ineinbers and toggle levers whereby a hinge having an easy working motion andwliich lies close to' andk does not protrude objectionably beyondY the door traine and door is produced. l V

./"i still further. object of `the invention is to provi/dea novel construction andv arrangement oit the closing spring whereby the springis enclosed and protected from i'n jury and itsexposure and projection beyond thedoor structure is avoided.

A still further object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby, through adjustment ot the"toggle mechanism, the tension oi the spring may beY regulated or the spring thrown out of action at will and as may be 'found desirable in practice.

lilith these and other objects in view, the invention consists 'of the features oi" cony struction,con'ibination and arrangement ot part hereinafter described and fully claimed,'reference being had to the accom# panying drawing', in which Figure l is a horizontal transverse sec-y tion through one side of adoor and'its hinving jamb, showingA theapplicationof the invention, and also Vshowingrin dotted lines two'open positions ofthe door, one an' extreme open position such as permittedbyv my improved hinge construction.

Figure 2 is a nview infront elevation ofV the partsshowii in Figure l',

Figure 3 is a transverse section on line 3&3 or' Figure l on an enlarged scale. Y VFigure 3a is a detail transverse section through the guide tube or vcasing of the plunger stenL f Y Figure k4t is a view generally similar .to Figure l, showing the door in plan and the swinging hinge member in longitudinal sec-v tioinand illustrating a modiiied form of my invention. i Figure 5 isla transverse section on line ot' Figure 4. A 1 Figure (5, is a view generally similar to Figuren showing anotherimodied ylorm of: 'iventionl l gure is an enlarged transverse section on line -Tof Figure 6'. Y Y

Figure 8 is a topy plan view ot'one of the hinge leaves,`broken away, showing another embodiment or' my invention;l

Figure 9 is a horizontal transverse section through one'sideot a door yand its side jamb anda hinge embodying the construction of Figure 8. i

ldiguie lOis a'zsection onthe line l0-l0,

Figure9. n i l Figures ll and l2Y are respectively top* plan and side elevations: of a flush hinge lying my invention. Y le eri-ing now Vmore.particularly to the di'awingfand especially Figures l to'3, inelusive, thereof, l designates the hinging jainby of. the doorway or' a refrigerator or other enclosing structure, and 2 the door for closing said doorway;

The hinge embodying my invention comprisesa relatively stationary hinge member 3 and a swinging hingev member 4i. These members areV adapted to be suitably secured to the amb l and to the door V2, respectively. its sh'ownftlie memberj 3 comprises a rectangular or oblong rectangular plate having a pair-.of spaced ears or knuckles 5, while the members is in the form ot an elongated plate provided at its outer end with aneck or projection terminating in an eye orv knuckle 7, 'through `which eye or vknuckle and the eyes or'knuckles 5 of t-he hinge meinber 34 passes a' pintle 8,' whereby'the. two hingel members are pivotally coupled,`

Associated with" the hinge members are toggle links orV levers 9 andlO, which entend" longitudinally of the hinge structure andere pivotallyV coupled by a pivot pin or pintleatitheir inner ends, as shown at l1,

'lfhe opposite or outer end of the link or lever 9 is pivotally and adjustably connected with the hinge member 4, as hereinafter described, while beyond its pivoted end the major portion as well as the outer end of the link or lever l is bifurcated or forked, and the arms 11 of this bifurcated or forked portion straddle the hinge member 3 and lie upon the outer sides of the knuckles 5 and are pivotally connected therewith, as indicated at 12. This pivotal connection 12 is arranged inwardly well as in rear of the pivotal connection 8, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The door 2 is provided with a bore or passage 13 extending through the same between its outer and inner sides, and lixedly mounted within the inner portion of this bore or passage is a guide tube or casing 14 within which is slidably mounted the inner end of a plunger rod or stem 15, the outer end of which is pivotally coupled to the pin or pintle 11 coupling the jointed ends of the toggle links or levers 9 and 10. The enclosed portion of the casing 14 is threaded to receive a nut 1G and surrounding the rod or stem between this nut and the inner or bottom side of the hinge member 4 is a coiled expansion spring` 17, operating through its expansive energy to normally draw the jointed ends of the toggle levers inwardly or toward the face of the door 2. The nut 1G may serve as a plunger head slidably engaging the tube or casing 14 and centering the plunger rod or stem 15 therein, and it also serves as an adjusting means whereby the tension of the spring may be regulated, as will be readily understood.

It will be understood, of course, that in practice any suitable number of hinges embodying my invention may be employed for the proper mounting of the door 2 upon the jamb 1, and that the conjoint strength of the springs 14 of the hinges employed may be such, in proportion to the size and weight of the door 2, as to swing the door to a fully closed position in the operation of the hinges for a door closing action. By reference to Figure 1. showing one of the hinges, it will be seen that when the door 2 is fully closed, the hinge members lie substantially in longitudinal alinement, the hinge member 103 extending at a slight angle between its pivot points 11 and 12, in which position of the links the spring-actuated plunger rod will be fully retracted and the links caused thereby to exert through their toggle closing action a closing pressure on the door 2. Then the door is swung open these relative positions of the links and plunger stem will be maintained until, through the arc of movement of the door, the distance between the pivotal points of the outer ends of the levers is shortened, whereupon the toggle action will be broken and the links bowed and their jointed ends moved outward relative to the face of the door, whereby the plunger stem 15 will be drawn outwardly and the spring 14 compressed and placed under tension. YVhen the door reaches an open position substantially at right angles to the face of the door frame, as indicated in the dotted line position a, the spring will be properly tensioned for a door closing action, but the movement of the link meinber 10 to a position in rear of the pivot 8, that is, to a position beyond center, will canse the action of the spring to be nullilied and a locking connection between the hinge members and the toggle levers to be effected, whereby the door will be held while in such position from a closing action. A slight inward movement of the door beyond this position will, however, bring the link member 10 to a position in which it is no longer beyond center, whereupon the door will be free to close under the action of the closing springs. lt will be observed that by reason ot' the forked construction of the link 10, and its mode of connection with the hinge member 3, said link member is free to swing from side to side, forwardly and rearwardly of the hinge member 3, without interference therefrom or from the door or door jamb. as a resultof which the door may be opened to a` still further degree, as indicated by the dotted line position a', which will be found to be desirable and advantageous under many conditions. The hinge structure described thus permits of a. very wide range of opening movement of the door, thus overcoming the objections to prior structures in which the construction and arrangement of parts is such as to cause interference and to prevent the door from having an opening movement beyond an angle of rlhe outer end of the link 9 is shown as indirectly pivoted to the hinge member 4 through a pin 18 coupling said link member to a slide plate 19 movable in a guideway formed by undercut guide rods or rails 2() on the member 4, said slide plate being provided with a set screw 21 for engagement with the member 4 and a binding action for clamping it in fixed position at any point along the lenwgth of the gnideway. Ey the provision of this adjustable pivotal connection between the hinge member 4 and the link member 9, the distance between the pivoted outer ends of the link members f) and 10 may be varied. to regulate the bouw ing action and closing movement of the links. as well as to enable the plunger stem 15 tobe adjusted to regulate the working pressure of the spring 17. this adjustment allowing the working pressure of the spring to be varied from the exterior of the door without the necessity of adjusting the nut 16. Bv loosening the screw 21 so as to allow the slide 19 to have free sliding movements in` its guideway the toggle 'levers maybe permitted to have movement to compensate for the variation in distance betweentheir pivotedouter ends when the door is opened' and closed withoutmaterially moving the plunger or compressing the spring, so that the springpressure may be-relieved from the door` when its use isnot desired.V In

practice the guide-tube or casing 14 may be externally of cylindrical form and fitted to rotate in thebore 13, and vit maybe internally Vof angular form conformingto the nut 16,' so that'the nut may slidetherein whilev a. gripping connectionf will be institutedbetweenl the tube and nut whereby through rotary movements ofthe tube the nut may be adjusted to vary the tension of the spring. Forthis purpose the inner end of the tube may be formed or provided with a suitable"finger'fpiece 22. This will allowv ready and convenient regulation'` of the spring pressure from the inside of the door.

In Figures 4 and 5 I haveshown a modified form of my invention in which the general structure is the same as thatdiselosed in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, v'except :for the use of a different type of spring closer. In this modified construction the vswinging hinge member 4 is hollow or channeled on its inside to form a housing 23 to receive theclosing spring 24. This spring is arranged to bear at'one end against an apen tur-ed guide memberV or partition 25 in the housing and at its opposite end against a washer or head upon a stem 26 on which is fitted an adjusting nut 27, which stem is` connected with one end of a-chain,\cord or like fiexible element 28, extending through thek spring and through the aperture in the guide 25 and around a guide pulley 29 and thence outward through a guide opening in the housing and connected at its opposite end` to the pivot member 11 coupling the jointed ends ofthe toggle levers. This construction, the operation VofV which is obvious, provides an Aorganization of the selfcontained unit type and an arrangement 'of the spring which adapts the entire device to be mounted upon'the outside of the door jamb and door anduprovides for the enclo-v sure of the spring so 'as to protect it in a very `secure mannerragainst injury.' A further departurein this construction is that the*slidingconnection between the pivoted outer end of thelinkmemberand they fixed hingewmember is dispensed with, Said link member having a fixed or non-adjustable pivotal connection vwith the member 4a, as indicated at 18a.y

In the form of my invention shown in Figures` 6 and 7 I have also disclosed the use of a different type of spring closing means, and which is of spring drum type, the same comprising a grooved wheel or drum 29 mounted within a casing 30 on a shaft l'journaled in the sides ofsaid 'casing, to which drum is securedone end of a cordor other flexible element 32, which is adapted to wind thereon and unwind therefrom, and the other vendof which cord or fiexibleelement is fastened to the pivot memberl11,'a coiled motor' spring 83 fastenedat its opposite ends tothe casing 3() and shaft '31 kbeingprovided for a spring take-up 'and'let-out actionof the elem-ent 32.

AsV shown, the casing 30 is 'fitted within a mortise or recess-in the door and -is openl at it's'outer side and adapted toA underlie andv tobe Vcoveredby the hinge member 4, on the removal -ofwhichfromvthe 'door 2' accessV to the casing and its contained parts may bereadily obtained. y "From the foregoing description, taken in connection vwith, the drawing, the construction and mode of operation of my improved hii'ige closer willbe'readil-y understood and it will be seen that the invention provides ardevice of this character which is simple,

strong and durable in construction, and which is composed of'a minimum number of parts compact-ly arranged so as to lieclose to the door and door jamb. Also it will be Vseen that the construction is such as to avoid the use of any interfering parts which will prevent-a full opening movement yof V,the door, the construction and arrangement of the hinge member 10 and forked lever 11' CFI ensuring a'range of movement which lwill I "atfone4 end to the yoke 37 while'its other end is connected to the joint 39 of Athe/tog'- gle lever40.Vv The rodsf36 being anchored to the hinge leaf, Vthe opening of the doorA causes the toggle lever toy bow outward from the hinge' thereby 'pulling on the chain 38 which in'turn ypullsthe yoke 3"? on the rods 36 and compresses the springs 34.A

lIn the Yviews heretofore referred to I have illustratedl myinvention iny an offset hinge, but it will be'understood fromFigures 11 and 12 that my invention is equally efiicient in a flush hinge.` As the" structure is practicallythe same I4 will not describe these figures in detail.

In the event that a larger cha-in roller 41 is desired'I may cast a housing 42 integral with the spring leaf to accommodate such roller and if desired I may provide a buffer on top of this housing to prevent the toggle lever from striking the metal of the housing thus eliminating the noise of metal striking metal.

By my invention it is possible to open the refrigerator door, pull wide without imposing strain-s upon the hinge and its parts and without liability of breaking the same.

Having thus fully described my invention,

'I claim l. ln a doorI hinge and Closer, a stationary hinge member adapted to be secured to the door jamb, a swinging hinge member pivoted to the first-named hinge member and adapted to be secured to the door, a pair of toggle leve-rs pivotally connected at their inner ends to each other and at their outer ends to the hinge members respectively, and a closing spring acting upon said toggle levers, the toggle lever pivoted to the stationary hinge member being movable from side to side of said member beyond opposite sides of the pivotal connection between the hinge members.

2. ln a door hinge and closer, a stationary hinge member adapted to be secured to a door jamb, a swinging hinge member adapted to be secured to a door and pivotally connected at one end to said stationary hinge member, a pair of links pivoted at their inner .ends to each other, one of said links being pivoted at its outer end to the swinging hinge member and the other of said links having a forked outer end straddling the stationary hinge member and pivoted thereto so as to permitsaid link to swing from side to side of said stationary hinge member and beyond opposite sides of the pivotal connection between the hinge members, and spring closing means for cooperation with said links.

3. In a door hinge and closer, a stationary hinge member, a relatively movable hinge member pivoted at one end thereto, a pair of links pivotally Coupled at their inner ends to each other, one of said links being pivotally connected at its outer end with the stationary hinge member, an adjustable pivotal connection between the outer end of the other link member and the swinging hinge member, said Connection including means for fixing the same in adjusted posi= tion, and a closing spring coupled to the jointed ends of the link members.

4. ln a door hinge and closer, a pair of pivotally connected hinge members, a pair of links pivotally coupled at their inner ends to each other, one of said links being pivotall-y connected at its outer end to one of the hinge members, and the other of said links having a forked end straddling the other hinge member and pivoted thereto inwardly of and rearwardly beyond the pivotal connection between the hinge members, and spring closing means assofiated with said links.

5, In a door hinge and closer, a pair of pivotally coupled hinge members adapted to be attached to a door and door jamb respectively, a pair of links pivoted at their inner ends to each other, one of said links having a slidably adjustable connection at its outer end with one of the hinge members and pro-vided with means for securing it in adj sted position, and the other of said links having a forked outer end straddling the other hinge member and pivotally connected therewith inwardly of and outwardly beyond the pivotal Connection between fthe hinge members, a closing spring, and a connection between the closing spring and the pivoted inner ends of the levers.

6. In a door hinge, a stationary hinge member adapted to be secured to a door jamb, a movable hinge member adapted to be secured to a door and pivoted at one end to the stationary hinge member, and a pair of spring-controlled toggle lever members pivoted at their inner ends to each other, one of said toggle lever members being pivoted at its outer end to the movable hinge member and the other of said toggle lever members having a bifureated or forked outer end straddling the stationary hinge member and pivoted thereto inwardly and in rear of the pivotal connection between the hinge members.

7. ln a door hinge, a stationary hinge member adapted to be secured to a door jamb, a movable hinge member adapted to be secured to a door and pivoted at one end to the stationary hinge member, a pair of toggle lever members pivoted at their inner ends to each other, one of said toggle lever' members being pivoted at its outer end to the movable hinge member and theI other of said toggle lever members having a bifureated or forked outer end straddling the stationary hinge member and pivoted thereto inwardly and in rear of the pivotal cone nection between the hinge members. and a controlling spring coupled to the jointed ends of the toggle lever members and opposing resistanee to the outward movement of said members.

In testimony whereof l aliix my signature.

CLEMENT V. HILL.

llO 

